Norco, California

Norco is a city in Riverside County, California, in the United States. According to city ordinances, the architecture of Norco “shall reflect a desired Western theme,” including qualities “described as rural, informal, traditional, rustic, low-profile and equestrian oriented.

City of Norco
City
Lake Norconian Pavilion
Seal
Motto(s): 
"HorseTown USA"[1]
Location in Riverside County and the state of California
Norco
Location within Greater Los Angeles
Norco
Location within California
Norco
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°55′52″N 117°32′55″W[2]
Country United States
State California
CountyRiverside
IncorporatedDecember 28, 1964[3]
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager[4]
Area
 • Total14.08 sq mi (36.46 km2)
 • Land13.86 sq mi (35.89 km2)
 • Water0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2)  2.22%
Elevation640 ft (195 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total27,063
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
26,604
 • Density1,920.03/sq mi (741.31/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
92860
Area code(s)951[7]
FIPS code06-51560
GNIS feature IDs1652819, 2411265
Websitewww.ci.norco.ca.us

As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,063, up from 24,157 at the 2000 census.

History

The area was part of Rancho La Sierra granted in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico to Vicenta Sepulveda.

The city's name is a portmanteau of "North Corona". It was named after the North Corona Land Company.[8]

Norco had its "grand opening" on Mother's Day, May 13, 1923.[9] It was later incorporated as a city on December 28, 1964.[10]

Geography

Norco is located at 33°55′25.4″N 117°33′42.1″W (33.923729, −117.561695).[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.3 square miles (37 km2) of which 14.0 square miles (36 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), or 2.22%, is water.

One of the most visible geographical features in Norco, visible from anywhere in the city, are the Santa Ana Mountains.

Vegetation

Norco is rich in native plant species partly because of its diversity of habitats. The most prevalent plant communities are sage scrub, chaparral shrubland, and riparian woodland.[12] Native plants include: the California poppy, matilija poppy, toyon, Ceanothus, Chamise, Coast Live Oak, sycamore, willow and Giant Wildrye. (Erythrina caffra)[13] (Strelitzia reginae).[14] Mexican Fan Palms, Canary Island Palms, Queen Palms, Date Palms, and California Fan Palms are common in the Norco area, although only the last is native. The Biome is the Mediterranean Biome but is called by many different things: The Woodland Biome, The Shrub Biome, or the Chaparral Biome.

Climate

Norco experiences a warm Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification CSa) and has mild to cool winters and hot summers. Most of the rainfall (as in all of Southern California) occurs during winter and early spring. Frost is not uncommon and happens mostly in December and January. The winter low temperatures can get cold enough for frost. Winter days are pleasant, with the mercury staying around 65 degrees Fahrenheit (occasionally warming into the 70s)., occasionally getting down to freezing. The spring brings pleasant weather, with little rain. Summertime is hot, with highs averaging in the low 90s. During the hottest months, daytime temperatures in Norco can exceed 100 degrees.[15][16] In early summer, Norco receives overcast weather known as "May Gray" or "June Gloom". Thunderstorms are rare but can happen once or twice every late summer. Fall brings sunny and slightly cooler weather with little rain, but can be windy due to the Santa Ana winds, blowing in 2 or 3 times a year from October to November.

Climate data for Norco, California
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 94
(34)		 92
(33)		 100
(38)		 101
(38)		 107
(42)		 110
(43)		 117
(47)		 112
(44)		 115
(46)		 109
(43)		 99
(37)		 94
(34)		 117
(47)
Average high °F (°C) 67
(19)		 70
(21)		 71
(22)		 77
(25)		 80
(27)		 87
(31)		 92
(33)		 94
(34)		 91
(33)		 83
(28)		 74
(23)		 68
(20)		 80
(26)
Average low °F (°C) 40
(4)		 43
(6)		 45
(7)		 48
(9)		 52
(11)		 57
(14)		 62
(17)		 64
(18)		 60
(16)		 52
(11)		 45
(7)		 42
(6)		 51
(11)
Record low °F (°C) 23
(−5)		 26
(−3)		 28
(−2)		 30
(−1)		 32
(0)		 44
(7)		 47
(8)		 46
(8)		 41
(5)		 29
(−2)		 26
(−3)		 22
(−6)		 22
(−6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.12
(79)		 3.37
(86)		 2.45
(62)		 .74
(19)		 .26
(6.6)		 .03
(0.76)		 .09
(2.3)		 .10
(2.5)		 .23
(5.8)		 .45
(11)		 1.32
(34)		 2.14
(54)		 14.30
(363)
Average precipitation days 7.2 7.4 5.5 3.7 1.5 0.3 0.9 1.0 1.2 2.2 4.2 6.4 41.7
Source: [17]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19501,584—
19604,964213.4%
197014,511192.3%
198019,73236.0%
199023,30218.1%
200024,1573.7%
201027,06312.0%
2019 (est.)26,604[6]−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

2010

At the 2010 census Norco had a population of 27,063. The population density was 1,895.4 people per square mile (731.8/km2). The racial makeup of Norco was 20,641 (76.3%) White (56.4% Non-Hispanic White),[19] 1,893 (7.0%) African American, 248 (0.9%) Native American, 844 (3.1%) Asian, 59 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 2,514 (9.3%) from other races, and 864 (3.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8,405 persons (31.1%).[20]

The census reported that 22,666 people (83.8% of the population) lived in households, 75 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 4,322 (16.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 7,023 households, 2,831 (40.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,353 (62.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 777 (11.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 453 (6.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 354 (5.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 61 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,030 households (14.7%) were one person and 458 (6.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.23. There were 5,583 families (79.5% of households); the average family size was 3.53.

The age distribution was 5,488 people (20.3%) under the age of 18, 2,798 people (10.3%) aged 18 to 24, 7,854 people (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 8,303 people (30.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,620 people (9.7%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 136.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 146.7 males.

There were 7,322 housing units at an average density of 512.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 5,702 (81.2%) were owner-occupied and 1,321 (18.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.8%. 18,572 people (68.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,094 people (15.1%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Norco had a median household income of $82,074, with 9.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[21]

2000

At the 2000 census there were 24,157 people in 6,136 households, including 4,945 families, in the city. The population density was 1,714.8 people per square mile (662.0/km2). There were 6,277 housing units at an average density of 445.6 per square mile (172.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.4% White, 6.1% African American, 0.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.8%.[22]

Of the 6,136 households 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 13.7% of households were one person and 4.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.2 and the average family size was 3.4.

The age distribution was 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 37.7% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 128.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $62,652, and the median family income was $66,204. Males had a median income of $41,599 versus $30,652 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,710. About 3.3% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Major employers

According to the City of Norco, the major area employers are the Corona-Norco Unified School District with 5,216 employees, California Rehabilitation Center with 1,146 employees, and Naval Surface Warfare Center with 1,010 employees.[23]

Government

In 2003, Norco became a charter city, for the express purpose of protecting and preserving animal keeping rights. The charter was not extensive; it maintained all aspects of California's General Law provisions except in three areas: horse trails, lot size, and animal keeping rights. To change any ordinances in Norco relating to those three topics requires a supermajority (4/5) vote of the City Council.

Representation

Federal:

State:

Local:

  • In the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, Norco is in the Second District, represented by Karen Spiegel.

Voting History
Norco city vote
by party in presidential elections
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020[26] 30.07% 3,754 66.45% 8,296 3.48% 434
2016[27] 29.33% 2,895 65.71% 6,487 4.95% 489

Infrastructure

Public safety

Norco contracts out for law enforcement services with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department through a regional station on Clark Avenue.[28]

The city of Norco contracts for fire and paramedic services with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE.[29]

Horse community

As a horse community, there are few sidewalks in the city of Norco; instead there are horse trails,[30] and riders can ride to town and tie their horses at the many hitching rails and corrals placed close to businesses. Many horse-related associations are a part of the city, including the Norco Horsemen's Association and the Norco Junior Horsemen's Association. Politics in Norco also are dominated by concerns about horses and animal-keeping versus suburbanization, a battle that has played out over development in the Norco Hills. In that area, which borders eastern Corona and Riverside, an influx of Orange County commuters are buying homes for $500,000 and up that have few provisions for animal-keeping. The original spirit of the town's incorporation was to promote "City living in a rural atmosphere."[31]

In 2006, Norco began promoting itself as "Horsetown U.S.A." and received a federal trademark.[32] A large cement mural with this logo and reliefs of horses can be seen on the freeway near the I-15 southbound onramp at 6th St. The nickname can also be found on stickers and other promotional items sold around town.

Norco is also the home of the Norco Animal Rescue Team (NART). NART was founded after the October 2003 wildfires that savaged San Bernardino County and San Diego County. During the fires, Norco citizens banded together to provide a place of refuge for horses and other animals being evacuated from the fire areas. In the aftermath of these fires, the community of Norco recognized a need for an organized group to assist in the evacuation of mainly large animals from floods, fires and other dangers. NART's main purpose is to rescue large animals, mainly horses, from dangerous situations such as being stranded in areas from which they cannot remove themselves, such as canyons or ravines, using the Anderson Sling and a helicopter. Such major rescues have been accomplished twice, and NART has mobilized during every major fire that has hit southern California since 2004.

The largest event highlighting Norco's community and lifestyle is the annual Norco Fair, run by community volunteers. Tickets for the fair are in the form of colorful button pins. Each year a contest is held to design the button. Buttons are sold in the weeks before the Fair by teenage girls competing to be the next Miss Norco. Buttons must be worn at all time by patrons of the Fair or they risk being locked in "jail" by the Fair's marshals. The Norco Fair runs over the Labor Day Weekend, beginning on Thursday evening with the Miss Norco, Horsetown USA Contest and continues until Monday, finishing with a Labor Day Parade down 6th Street. Events included at the Fair are the rodeo, rodeo dance, calf dressing competition, pageants, exhibitions, cowboy poker, wild cow milking, snail races, talent show, pet parade, and "Family Fun Day."

Norco's largest event center - George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center - hosts events such as the Norco rodeo and Norco Fair. George Ingalls Equestrian center has covered horse arenas and other amenities. The center is named after George Alan Ingalls, a Medal of Honor recipient.

Norco bank robbery shootout
Further information: Norco shootout

References
  1. "City of Norco California Website". City of Norco California Website. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  2. "Norco". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  3. "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  4. "City Charter". City of Norco. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  5. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. "NPA City Report". North American Numbering Plan Administration. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  8. "Profile for Norco, California, CA". ePodunk. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  9. http://www.norco.ca.us/about/norco_history/default.asp Archived December 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  10. http://www.rivcoeda.org/Portals/0/demographicReports/Community%20Reports/Norco.pdf
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. Miller, George Oxford (January 15, 2008). Landscaping with Native Plants of Southern California. Voyageur Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7603-2967-2. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  13. National Research Council (U.S.). Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation (1979). Tropical legumes: resources for the future: report of an ad hoc panel of the Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation, Board on Science and Technology for International Development, Commission on International Relations, National Research Council. National Academies. p. 258. NAP:14318. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  14. "Flower". Los Angeles Magazine. Emmis Communications. April 2003. p. 62. ISSN 1522-9149. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  15. www.weather.com
  16. "Past Weather in Corona, California, USA — Yesterday or Further Back".
  17. "Corona weather averages". Weather. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  18. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. "Norco (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  20. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Norco city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  21. "Norco (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  23. City of Norco. Major Area Employers. Archived January 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2007.
  24. "California's 42nd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  25. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  26. https://www.voteinfo.net/Elections/20201103/docs/StatementOfVotesCastRPT.pdf
  27. "Results" (PDF). elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  28. "City of Norco Website - Sheriff". www.norco.ca.us. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  29. "Service Area". Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  30. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. O’Neill, Patrick (August 2, 2016). "Could Norco's rejected Hindu temple get another shot?". Press Enterprise. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  32. "Horsetown, USA". U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Electronic Search System. January 26, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
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